I had contemplated doing a write-up about a day spent at Mystic Aquarium at some point this Summer, since it had been a popular vacation destination for my family and I when I was growing up and I haven’t been back in many, many years- but this past weekend when my cousin Paige proposed getting together to look at some fish, penguins and sea lions for an afternoon before she embarks on a trip to Mexico next month- I decided the write-up could happen a little earlier and in the Spring, instead!
One thing I have always appreciated about Mystic Aquarium, other than their ongoing research and conservation efforts and their educational programs for all-ages- was that they had a much more expansive and unique number of species to look at- like sharks, Beluga Whales, and Moray Eels (which are wild to see up close, by the way.) Being able to see things that a lot of local aquariums don’t have has always been, and still is, such a thrill. On more than one occasion I found myself excitedly pointing at something and saying “oh look at that!” out loud.
And despite some windy conditions outside that made being in the outdoor exhibits just a little uncomfortable, the place was absolutely packed- although it was still more tame than it is in the Summer- so we picked a good time of year to go!
After the aquarium, our party headed across the street to Olde Mistick Village for some bubble tea and lunch. I was excited to show everyone Alice in the Village/Alice’s Haunted Little Bookshop, which I had last written about near the end of Summer of 2022– and both are just as fun and as vibrant as ever!
But we’d also grabbed a buffalo pizza at Mango’s Wood-Fired Pizza Co. and some seriously decadent and elaborately decorated doughnuts from one of my favorite spots- Deviant Donuts. I picked out a half-dozen that included a “Twilight”-themed apple doughnut, a mango/blackberry fritter, and a habanero-infused spin on a classic Boston Cream that was surprisingly delicious!
Their menu changes weekly, and I always love checking out their website to see what new concoctions they’ve come up with!
We’d also stopped to buy some honey and fudge at the nearby specialty foods market and general store before it was time to pack up and head home to get ready for this week ahead- but it was such a fun-filled day! I’m so grateful Paige had the idea to head down there for the afternoon!
And I know I’ll be heading back to Mystic soon!
xo
Coffee & Chiffon 